Bolthole Index

Lehigh County, Pennsylvania

Building permits, zoning and septic in Heidelberg Township, PA

Heidelberg Township, Pennsylvania, generally requires building permits for construction and alterations, with the permit type depending on size and use.1 In Lehigh County, Heidelberg Township administers its own zoning, and its Sewage Enforcement Officer handles on-lot septic testing and sewage-disposal permission.23 Start with the township permitting office before scheduling or beginning work.4

At a glance

Building permits
Usually required for construction and alterations; confirm by size and use1
Zoning
Township zoning applies2
Septic permits
Township Sewage Enforcement Officer; on-lot application available35
Driveway permits
Township approval required; State-road access also needs a State permit6
Agricultural buildings
Qualifying nonhabitable farm buildings are excluded from the state Construction Code Act; local land-use rules still apply7
Move-in approval
UCC-regulated residential buildings need a certificate of occupancy8

Who to call

Building permits

Heidelberg Township Zoning and Building Code Enforcement

Building and zoning application intake; contact the office to confirm required approvals.

610-767-9297 x1

[email protected]

6272 Route 309, New Tripoli, PA 18066

Septic permits

Heidelberg Township Sewage Enforcement Officer

On-lot septic systems, percolation and probe testing, and sewage-disposal permission; use municipal office contact to reach the SEO.

[email protected]

6272 Route 309, New Tripoli, PA 18066

Planning & zoning

Heidelberg Township Planning Commission

Subdivision and land-development plans.

[email protected]

6272 Route 309, New Tripoli, PA 18066

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 11, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Heidelberg Township means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.

Do you need a building permit in Heidelberg Township, PA?

Heidelberg Township usually requires building permits for construction and alteration of homes, garages, pole barns, pools, signs, decks, retaining walls and fences; the permit type depends on size and use.1 Ask the township permitting office about the specific project before scheduling work.4

Pennsylvania requires a residential UCC building permit before covered construction begins, but lists exemptions for limited work and ordinary repairs, provided the work does not violate another law or ordinance.9 A qualifying agricultural building without habitable space can be excluded from the Construction Code Act, while municipal zoning and other applicable requirements remain.7

Who handles Heidelberg Township building applications and fees?

Heidelberg Township’s Zoning and Building Code Enforcement office accepts applications by email, mail or in person at the municipal building.10 Email applicants must mail or drop off a check for the application fee.4 Reach the permitting office at 610-767-9297 x1 or [email protected].10

The township zoning-permit page lists a non-refundable $60 filing fee and a construction charge of $5 per 100 square feet or fraction thereof; all fees must be paid before issuance.11 Ask the office for the complete building-code review and inspection charges for the proposed work; the listed zoning charges should not be treated as the whole project budget.1112

Does Heidelberg Township have zoning, lot-size and setback rules?

Heidelberg Township administers zoning through its Zoning Officer and municipal ordinance.2 Normal maintenance and repairs do not require a township zoning permit.2 Zoning applications require a plot plan, and township zoning permits expire after 1 year, with work completed by expiration.4

We could not confirm the district-specific minimum lot area, setbacks, dwelling size, lot coverage or height limits; ask the Zoning Officer to identify the parcel’s district and the standards for the proposed dwelling.2 For a lot split or land-development proposal, Heidelberg Township requires plans at least 21 days before a regular Planning Commission meeting.13

How do septic permits work inside Heidelberg Township?

Heidelberg Township’s Sewage Enforcement Officer handles on-lot septic systems, percolation and probe testing, and sewage-disposal-system permission.3 The township provides an On Lot Sewage Disposal System Permit application.5 Pennsylvania generally requires local-agency approval before installation, contracting for construction, construction, occupancy or use of an on-lot system.14

Lehigh County’s soil data rate only 17.8% of soils not limited for a conventional septic drain field; this county-level screening is not a verdict on a Heidelberg Township parcel, so arrange a site evaluation rather than assuming septic is impossible.15 For a new residence using a composting toilet, Pennsylvania still requires approved treatment of washwater or excess liquid.16

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Heidelberg Township?

We could not confirm permission to live in an RV, camp temporarily or occupy a tiny home on private land in Heidelberg Township; ask the township Zoning Officer about the proposed use and location before relying on temporary housing during construction.2 Include the planned sewage arrangement in that discussion with the Sewage Enforcement Officer.3

For a tiny home governed by Pennsylvania’s residential UCC, occupancy requires a certificate of occupancy issued by a building code official.8 Pennsylvania’s manufactured-home construction rules address installation and related site work, but do not resolve Heidelberg Township zoning or septic approval.17

Building a home in Heidelberg Township: what are the steps?

  1. Ask Heidelberg Township’s permitting office which zoning and building applications the proposed home requires before scheduling work.4
  2. Prepare the zoning plot plan and arrange on-lot sewage testing and permission through the township Sewage Enforcement Officer.43
  3. Obtain the township driveway permit before driveway work; access from a State road requires both State and Township permits.6
  4. Submit the applications and pay the required fees before issuance.411
  5. For permitted residential UCC construction, notify the code official when work is ready for inspection and keep construction accessible.12
  6. Obtain the residential certificate of occupancy before using a UCC-regulated home.8

What should you check before buying Heidelberg Township land?

Heidelberg Township zoning applies even though Lehigh County has no countywide zoning authority.218 For land outside the township, use the Lehigh County guide to orient the search, then identify the municipality responsible for the parcel’s approvals.19

We could not confirm a separate Heidelberg Township private-well permit or mandatory public-water and sewer connection conditions; ask the township permitting office and Sewage Enforcement Officer before choosing a water and wastewater design.103 Pennsylvania municipalities review development in Special Flood Hazard Areas, so ask the township which floodplain approvals the proposed site needs.20 Check road access early: Heidelberg Township requires driveway permits for new driveways, improvements and changes of use.6

Watch-outs

  • Confirm the current building-code edition with Heidelberg Township before preparing plans: township pages give conflicting edition guidance, while Pennsylvania’s triennial UCC update became effective in 2026.2122
  • Heidelberg Township driveway approval lasts 1 year, with no time extension if work is not completed.6
  • Pennsylvania’s lack of statewide licensing for most construction contractors does not establish a Heidelberg Township owner-builder exemption from building permits.231

Sources

  1. Heidelberg Township - Permits (Heidelberg Township), quoted and re-checked
  2. Heidelberg Township - Zoning Permits (Heidelberg Township), quoted and re-checked
  3. Heidelberg Township - Sewage Enforcement Officer (Heidelberg Township), quoted and re-checked
  4. Heidelberg Township - Permits (Heidelberg Township), quoted and re-checked
  5. Heidelberg Township - Sewage Enforcement Officer (Heidelberg Township), quoted and re-checked
  6. Heidelberg Township - Driveway Permits (Heidelberg Township), quoted and re-checked
  7. Pennsylvania Construction Code Act — Chapter 1 (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. Part XIV, Uniform Construction Code, Chapter 403 Administration (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. Part XIV, Uniform Construction Code, Chapter 403 Administration (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. Heidelberg Township Zoning and Building Code Enforcement (heidelberglehigh.org)
  11. Heidelberg Township - Zoning Permits (Heidelberg Township), quoted and re-checked
  12. Part XIV, Uniform Construction Code, Chapter 403 Administration (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. Heidelberg Township - Planning Commission (Heidelberg Township), quoted and re-checked
  14. 25 Pa. Code § 72.22. Permit issuance (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  16. 25 Pa. Code § 73.65. Recycling toilet, incinerating toilet or composting toilet (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code, Chapter 403 (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. 2018 Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing, quoted and re-checked
  19. Local Registrations, Permits, Zoning (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. PennsylvaniA Floodplain Development Guide (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. Heidelberg Township - Zoning and Building Code Enforcement (Heidelberg Township), quoted and re-checked
  22. Uniform Construction Code (UCC) (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  23. Contractor Licensing (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

Written October 11, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Heidelberg Township

Heidelberg Township’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction and alteration of structures inside Heidelberg Township, including homes, garages, pole barns, pools, signs, decks, retaining walls, and fences, subject to size and use.

    • Permit type may depend on the size and use of the structure.
    • The township says to contact the office before scheduling or beginning work to verify whether a permit is required.
    “Building Permits are usually required for the construction and alteration of structures”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Heidelberg Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania; Heidelberg Township administers zoning through its Zoning Officer and zoning ordinance.

    • Normal maintenance and repairs do not require a zoning permit.
    • The township's official code page identifies a municipal code of ordinances.
    “until the Zoning Officer issues a zoning permit [...] No zoning permit is required for normal maintenance and repairs.”
  • Who permits septicLocal

    On-lot septic systems, percolation and probe testing, and on-lot sewage-disposal-system permission inside Heidelberg Township.

    • The township identifies a Sewage Enforcement Officer for these matters.
    “For Information Regarding: – on-lot septic systems – percolation and probe testing – on-lot sewage disposal system permission”
  • Septic permitRequired

    On-lot sewage disposal systems inside Heidelberg Township.

    • The township provides an official On Lot Sewage Disposal System Permit application.
    • The township permits page lists an on-lot septic permit among permits that may be required.
    • Percolation and probe testing and sewage-disposal-system permission are handled through the township's sewage-enforcement function.
    “Permit Application: On Lot Sewage Disposal System Permit”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision and land development inside Heidelberg Township.

    • Subdivision and land-development plans must be submitted at least 21 days before a regular Planning Commission meeting.
    • The Planning Commission handles approval of plans, re-subdivisions, and design standards for streets, lots, easements, and improvements.

    minimum submission lead time: >= 21 days (before a regular Planning Commission meeting)

    “*Subdivision/Land Development plans must be submitted a minimum of 21 days prior to a regular meeting.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    New, improved, or change-of-use driveways and other ingress or egress onto Township or State roads inside Heidelberg Township.

    • A driveway permit is required before commencing work.
    • For access from a State road, both a State permit and a Township permit are required.
    • The application must be signed by the property owner.
    • A construction plan, filing fee, and escrow amount established by resolution accompany the application.
    • An approved driveway application is valid for one year; no time extension is granted if work is not completed.

    permit validity: 1 year (no time extension if work is not completed)

    “Heidelberg Township requires driveway permits for new driveways and improvements to existing driveways on both Township and State Roads.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Township zoning permits inside Heidelberg Township.

    • All fees must be paid before permits are issued.
    • Checks are payable to Heidelberg Township.
    • The filing fee is non-refundable.
    • Construction permit fees are charged per 100 square feet or fraction thereof.

    filing fee: 60 USD (non-refundable) · construction permit fee: 5 USD per 100 square feet or fraction thereof · change of use fee: 50 USD · sign fee up to 12 square feet: 10 USD · sign fee 13 to 100 square feet: 30 USD · sign fee 100 to 500 square feet: 60 USD

    “All fees must be paid prior to any permits being issued. Checks payable to Heidelberg Township. Filing Fee: $60.00 non-refundable Permit Fee for Construction: $5.00 per 100 sq. ft or fraction thereof Change of Use: $50.00”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning, building, UCC, and driveway permit processing inside Heidelberg Township.

    • Applications may be submitted by email, mail, or in person.
    • Email submissions require mailing or dropping off a check for the application fee.
    • Applicants are told to contact the township before scheduling or beginning work.
    • Zoning applications require a plot plan and, where applicable, owner and applicant signatures.
    • Zoning permits expire one year after issuance and work must be completed by expiration.

    zoning permit validity: 1 year (work must be completed by expiration date) · zoning plan copies: 3 copies (plot plan showing existing or proposed improvements)

    “Permits can be submitted by email, mail, or in person at the municipal building.”

Rules another office applies inside Heidelberg Township

Heidelberg Township does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Construction-permit applications for work inside Heidelberg Township.

    • The township states that applications must meet the 2018 building code as adopted by Pennsylvania.
    • The township permits page separately states that work for which a construction permit is sought on or after October 1, 2018 uses the 2015 International Codes and Pennsylvania amendments.
    “Applications must meet the 2018 building code as adopted by Pennsylvania.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Heidelberg Township or Lehigh County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemptions from building-code permitting inside Heidelberg Township.
  • Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Heidelberg Township.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for buildings inside Heidelberg Township.
  • Zoning districts — Published zoning districts and zoning map for Heidelberg Township.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Heidelberg Township.
16 more unanswered
  • Minimum lot size
  • Setbacks
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Heidelberg Township publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Lehigh County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Lehigh County: county rules, score and offices